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roduction of all。 One product cannot exist without another； an isolated industry is an impossible thing。 What would be the harvest of the farmer； if others did not manufacture for him barns； wagons； ploughs； clothes； &c。？ Where would be the savant without the publisher； the printer without the typecaster and the machinist； and these； in their turn； without a multitude of other industries？ 。 。 。 Let us not prolong this catalogueso easy to extendlest we be accused of uttering commonplaces。 All industries are united by mutual relations in a single group； all productions do reciprocal service as means and end； all varieties of talent are but a series of changes from the inferior to the superior。
Now； this undisputed and indisputable fact of the general participation in every species of product makes all individual productions common； so that every product； coming from the hands of the producer； is mortgaged in advance by society。 The producer himself is entitled to only that portion of his product； which is expressed by a fraction whose denominator is equal to the number of individuals of which society is composed。 It is true that in return this same producer has a share in all the products of others； so that he has a claim upon all； just as all have a claim upon him； but is it not clear that this reciprocity of mortgages； far from authorizing property； destroys even possession？ The laborer is not even possessor of his product； scarcely has he finished it； when society claims it。
〃But；〃 it will be answered； 〃even if that is soeven if the product does not belong to the producerstill society gives each laborer an equivalent for his product； and this equivalent； this salary； this reward； this allowance； becomes his property。 Do you deny that this property is legitimate？ And if the laborer； instead of consuming his entire wages； chooses to economize；who dare question his right to do so？〃
The laborer is not even proprietor of the price of his labor； and cannot absolutely control its disposition。 Let us not be blinded by a spurious justice。 That which is given the laborer in exchange for his product is not given him as a reward for past labor； but to provide for and secure future labor。 We consume before we produce。 The laborer may say at the end of the day； 〃I have paid yesterday's expenses； to…morrow I shall pay those of today。〃 At every moment of his life； the member of society is in debt； he dies with the debt unpaid：how is it possible for him to accumulate？
They talk of economyit is the proprietor's hobby。 Under a system of equality； all economy which does not aim at subsequent reproduction or enjoyment is impossiblewhy？ Because the thing saved； since it cannot be converted into capital； has no object； and is without a FINAL CAUSE。 This will be explained more fully in the next chapter。
To conclude：
The laborer； in his relation to society； is a debtor who of necessity dies insolvent。 The proprietor is an unfaithful guardian who denies the receipt of the deposit committed to his care； and wishes to be paid for his guardianship down to the last day。
Lest the principles just set forth may appear to certain readers too metaphysical； I shall reproduce them in a more concrete form； intelligible to the dullest brains； and pregnant with the most important consequences。
Hitherto； I have considered property as a power of EXCLUSION； hereafter； I shall examine it as a power of INVASION。
CHAPTER IV。 THAT PROPERTY IS IMPOSSIBLE。
The last resort of proprietors；the overwhelming argument whose invincible potency reassures them；is that； in their opinion； equality of conditions is impossible。 〃Equality of conditions is a chimera；〃 they cry with a knowing air； 〃distribute wealth equally to…dayto…morrow this equality will have vanished。〃
To this hackneyed objection； which they repeat everywhere with the most marvellous assurance； they never fail to add the following comment； as a sort of GLORY BE TO THE FATHER： 〃If all men were equal； nobody would work。〃 This anthem is sung with variations。
〃If all were masters； nobody would obey。〃
〃If nobody were rich； who would employ the poor？〃
And； 〃If nobody were poor； who would labor for the rich？〃
But let us have done with invectivewe have better arguments at our command。
If I show that property itself is impossiblethat it is property which is a contradiction； a chimera； a utopia； and if I show it no longer by metaphysics and jurisprudence； but by figures； equations； and calculations；imagine the fright of the astounded proprietor！ And you； reader； what do you think of the retort？
Numbers govern the worldmundum regunt numeri。 This proverb applies as aptly to the moral and political； as to the sidereal and molecular； world。 The elements of justice are identical with those of algebra； legislation and government are simply the arts of classifying and balancing powers； all jurisprudence falls within the rules of arithmetic。 This chapter and the next will serve to lay the foundations of this extraordinary doctrine。 Then will be unfolded to the reader's vision an immense and novel career； then shall we commence to see in numerical relations the synthetic unity of philosophy and the sciences； and； filled with admiration and enthusiasm for this profound and majestic simplicity of Nature； we shall shout with the apostle： 〃Yes； the Eternal has made all things by number； weight； and measure！〃 We shall understand not only that equality of conditions is possible； but that all else is impossible； that this seeming impossibility which we charge upon it arises from the fact that we always think of it in connection either with the proprietary or the communistic regime；political systems equally irreconcilable with human nature。 We shall see finally that equality is constantly being realized without our knowledge； even at the very moment when we are pronouncing it incapable of realization； that the time draws near when； without any effort or even wish of ours； we shall have it universally established； that with it； in it； and by it； the natural and true political order must make itself manifest。
It has been said； in speaking of the blindness and obstinacy of the passions； that； if man had any thing to gain by denying the truths of arithmetic； he would find some means of unsettling their certainty： here is an opportunity to try this curious experiment。 I attack property； no longer with its own maxims； but with arithmetic。 Let the proprietors prepare to verify my figures； for； if unfortunately for them the figures prove accurate； the proprietors are lost。
In proving the impossibility of property； I complete the proof of its injustice。 In fact；
That which is JUST must be USEFUL；
That which is useful must be TRUE；
That which is true must be POSSIBLE；
Therefore； every thing which is impossible is untrue； useless； unjust。 Then；a priori；we may judge of the justice of any thing by its possibility； so that if the thing were absolutely impossible； it would be absolutely unjust。
PROPERTY IS PHYSICALLY AND MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE。
DEMONSTRATION。
AXIOM。Property is the Right of Increase claimed by the Proprietor over any thing which he has stamped as his own。
This proposition is purely an axiom； because；
1。 It is not a definition； since it does not express all that is included in the right of propertythe right of sale； of exchange； of gift； the right to transform； to alter； to consume； to destroy； to use and abuse； &c。 All these rights are so many different powers of property； which we may consider separately； but which we disregard here； that we may devote all our attention to this single one；the right of increase。
2。 It is universally admitted。 No one can deny it without denying the facts； without being instantly belied by universal custom。
3。 It is self…evident； since property is always accompanied （either actually or potentially） by the fact which this axiom expresses； and through this fact； mainly； property manifests； establishes； and asserts itself。
4。 Finally； its negation involves a contradiction。 The right of increase is really an inherent right； so essential a part of property； that； in its absence； property is